“Show courage and prove yourself”: Glen Johnson fires warning to want-away Chelsea star
After a dismal return to Stamford Bridge, former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson believes it may be in everyone’s best interests for striker Romelu Lukaku to depart the club.
The Chelsea midfielder was signed from Inter Milan for a club-record £97.5 million last summer, and he was supposed to lead the Blues to the league title and score the goals that would define their season.
The Belgian ace, on the other hand, only scored eight goals in 26 league appearances.
He was also frequently pulled out of major games due to a variety of reasons, including disciplinary troubles stemming from a controversial interview with Sky Italy that was not sanctioned by the club.
There were just a few games where he didn’t seem his best, and Kai Havertz and Timo Werner were chosen.
The striker has been linked with a return to Inter Milan, where he has a home and played his greatest football.
He and Lautaro Martnez created a lethal partnership that helped Inter win their first league title since 2010 under now-Tottenham manager Antonio Conte.
Chelsea is contemplating Inter’s interest, and according to rumors, manager Thomas Tuchel will have the last word on whether or not the trade will go through.
Former Chelsea and Liverpool defender Glen Johnson, on the other hand, believes it is in everyone’s best interests for the Belgian striker to leave Stamford Bridge.
The former England defender told Daily Star: “Personally, I would have had a desire to take one more season and prove myself.
“But I sit with the feeling that Lukaku has had a whole season to show his courage. And he has not shown it. I do not see in my mind that anything should change next season.
“If he was the type of player who could stand up and show courage next season, then I think we would have already seen indications of this, it sounds.
“I could well imagine that he was going somewhere else. For if he had the courage to strike back during the pre-season, then he would have already had the courage to strike back during his first season.
“I do not see in my mind that he should be able to strike back next season. So maybe a switch is best for all parties.”